IDC describes technologies that focus on the needs and demands of users — including mobile, cloud, and Internet of Things (IoT) — as the “third platform.” These technologies are in contrast to the first and second platforms, mainframe computing and, then, client/server architecture and PCs, which, basically, made users come to them.
Third platform technologies untether users from workstations. Cloud, mobile, and IoT solutions give users the ability to access applications and information, anytime, anywhere, and build connected networks in which data can freely flow and intelligent devices can automate essential tasks. Third platform trends, specifically mobile, IoT and cloud trends, are proof positive that businesses and enterprises are moving forward with digital transformation.
Thought leaders at InterVision, an IT strategic service provider, share their insights on mobile, IoT and cloud trends to watch in 2020.
Cloud Trends
Hybrid
Jeff Ton, SVP, Product Development & Strategic Alliances, at InterVision, points out, “No one wants to run a data center anymore. For companies whose core business strategy doesn’t depend upon maintaining their own IT systems, such as government, healthcare, or the financial industry, we will see this huge shift toward hybrid environments as a way to both offload the heavy burdens of managing a data center and fully virtualize IT systems for future challenges.”
Governance
Derek Brost, Director, Professional Services – Security at InterVision, explains, “With increasing practices around security automation, software developed lifecycles and the overall adoption of cloud to assist in business functions, we’ll see an increased attention to cloud governance. While the technology landscape finally has the capacity to address all the end-to-end needs of security and compliance, the larger business issues of cloud governance will be much more valuable than the tools themselves.”
Brost expects to see a growing number of strategic teams leveraging existing governance practices such as financial cost controls and adding more robust security and compliance governance practices.
Migration via refactoring
John Gray, InterVision CTO, expects to see more companies doing the work to modernize IT applications, optimizing the quality of datasets, and upgrading operating systems before sending everything to the cloud.
“Many have found out the hard way that lifting and shifting large quantities of applications into the cloud, because the applications are not optimized to take advantage of cloud-native strengths, do not lead to a great result,” says Gray. “Doing the prep work prior to a full migration will save time, costs and headaches for everyone.
Hardware companies pivot
“Everything is cloud-centric now,” Gray adds. “Companies that have continued to capitalize on the hardware market will need to find new lines of revenue in 2020 — and fast.”
“We’ll see a major shift in the IT vendor landscape toward enabling clients to harness more complex multi-cloud strategies, creating virtualized software appliances that are deployed into cloud environments and APIs that are utilized from cloud environments, rather than pushing companies to refresh their existing infrastructure with the newest hardware models. Those that don’t pivot to embrace cloud ecosystems will perish,” Gray comments.
IoT Trends
Growth due to 5G
Although the US has been waiting for 5G for some time, Ton says adoption will occur in 2020 — and the transition will occur quickly. “Cities will see their neighbors suddenly reaping the benefits of this lightning-fast internet speed and want it for themselves,” says Ton. “Providers that can’t deliver 5G for their consumers will feel quite the hurt.”
Ton says IoT will prove to be the most impactful area of 5G adoption. “It will bring the convenience of technology to the frontlines of consumer experience. Everything will become intelligent, from trash cans to thermostats, refrigerators to whiteboards,” he says.
Cyberattacks targeting IoT
The IoT represents significant potential, but Brost says, however, “The focus on harnessing connectivity with IoT to improve every aspect of daily life will ultimately become the very downfall of the innovation.”
“Anything connected to the outside world in your home or workplace can be hacked. For this reason, consumer education in this area will come at the cost of the companies building and deploying these devices,” he says. “Right now, too many organizations are in a blissful state of ignorance to the security ramifications of this innovation or are externalizing this burden to their customers instead of owning the responsibility. Unfortunately, it will take a large-scale breach for everyone to wake up.”
Brost says to safely use IoT, “There are great options for controlled environments in the cloud. If each IoT device were to establish an individual, private connection,(rather than a connection to a public environment, you could theoretically reduce the entry points for these devices, thereby making them more secure.”
Smart city legislation
Brost adds that the risks associated with Smart Cities leveraging IoT technology could lead to legislation centered on regulating the use of IoT devices. “Anything connected to the Internet – especially cameras – are perennial targets for hacking. And these attacks have already been originating from overseas with the intent to weaponize the technology and launch more attacks in-turn,” Brost says. “It’s not a far mental leap to imagine how foreign countries could use IoT devices for spying and attacking citizens. Worse, even after vulnerabilities are discovered, the manufacturers may not own the responsibility to fix it, necessitating either a lengthy revamp of the infrastructure with an eye for privacy protections or a complete rip-and-replace from a more security-minded manufacturer.”
Mobility Trends
Teams go 100% mobile
Ton expects desk phones to become a thing of the past. “I can’t think of the last time my desk phone rang and it wasn’t someone trying to sell me something. With no more need to use desk phones, IT will stop wiring business buildings for phone systems to save on costs. Just like Apple did with removing headphone jacks from their iPhone models and it pushed the audio manufacturing market toward more Bluetooth connectivity, so too will this act normalize the remote workforce,” he says.
Is Your Development Business on Trend?
Considering the direction that other IT businesses and the enterprises and organizations that use their services are taking, is your business prepared for success with third platform solutions in 2020? 
